What Is Psalms of Solomon?

Psalms of Solomon is a collection of poetic prayers responding to an invasion of Jerusalem but apparently preceding the destruction of the city by the Romans in 70 CE. The invasion is not described in specific historical terms and may have been that of Antiochus IV Ephiphanes in 169 BCE, Pompey in 63 BCE, or Titus in 70 CE. The psalms include many themes common to biblical and Second Temple-era prayers, attributing Israel’s suffering to its sins, emphasizing divine justice, and appealing to God for forgiveness on the basis of the covenant with the patriarchs. It also includes the idea of a Messiah descended from David who would redeem Israel in the future. The text is preserved in Greek and Syriac, but the original language was likely Hebrew.